Holidays when pregnant - my tips (long)

Hello girlies,
Just got back from five nights in Muscat, Oman as a last luxury break for DH and I before we are no longer just two (I hit 25 weeks while we were out there). broke the bank, but we had a great time lounging around under parasols and playing Scrabble (sad, I know!), and I have a few travel tips which might be useful.
Travel Insurance
If you think that you might even vaguely go abroad while you are pg, tell your insurance company now as it is classed as a change in your circumstances. Even if you are having a completely normal pregnancy with no complications, some insurance companies won't cover you past 20 weeks, even though all the travel advice I've seen is that 14-28 weeks is the best time to travel. I called Columbus, who we've been insured with at great expense for six years, last week before we headed off, just to double check it would be fine, and it wasn't: had to cancel policy and take out a new one with the Post Office, who are cool if everything is OK and you are back by 31 weeks. Oddly, Columbus have no probs with you travelling from 8 weeks, even though I thought air travel wasn't a great idea in the first trimester.
Airlines
Even if their official line is that flying is fine until 28 weeks or whatever, double check with the airline that you will be OK if you are travelling before then, and get a note from the doc to say you are OK to travel, even if there is nothing wrong and you are in the 2nd trimester. We flew with Gulf Air, and on the way out no-one even mentioned that I was pg, apart from the say that we wouldn't be able to sit in the emergency exit seats cos I'm not as nimble now, which I knew anyway. On the way back, however, all hell broke loose at check in desk and there was a huge issue with me being 25 weeks, for no reason whatsoever. Eventually got is sorted out and got on the plane, only to have steward start interrogating me again. All very stressful, and no-one even vaguely interested in whether I was OK - all red tape.
Both the insurance and the airline problems made me feel really cross that as a perfectly normal pregnant woman, I was being treated like I was a ticking bomb or a seriously ill person - a liability, in other words. I know they have to cover themselves, but there was little interest in my pregnancy (how I was, whether everything was OK) and lots of interest in numbers of weeks, with no context.

Clothes
Next's white floaty maternity beach stuff is fab, although huge - I ordered loads of size 16 stuff cos I didn't want to be constrained (was 12-14 before pg) and found it difficult keeping waistbands up! JoJo Maman Bebe combats are great for air travel. Blooming Marvellous swimsuit was perfect. Best buy was a treat - Isabella Oliver long black skirt and their black and white vest tops (with a little wrap over the top) - felt very sexy for the first time in five months and DH loved the outfit.
Also one more point on alcohol. I've been quite happy having a glass of wine once or twice a week at home/with friends since the start of the 2nd trimester, but for some reason on holiday I felt really self-conscious drinking anything at all, and was automatically offered juice/soft drinks rather than anyone asking what I would like to drink. I didn't expect to feel like that - just something to bear in mind.

Overall, though, the 7hr flight was absolutely fine, I had no probs at all, and it was worth every penny to relax for a few days. If you can get away, even for a night or two in the UK somewhere nice, before you have your baba, go for it!

Thanks chica.. Through various forums on tripadvisor et al it is pretty clear that the islands have little to no medical facility of their own. The closest hospitals are in Male, at least 45 mins to an hour away - including the time to arrange for a water taxi, getting to the hospital etc. But then, for whatever reasons i don't feel the quality of medical care is too much of a concern, as is the Q of - how accessible will assistance be when I most need it (if at all)?

To be honest Eurochick, i'd have less concerns about 20 weeks. Because at the risk of sounding alarmist, if anything untoward happens at 20 weeks (which it wont!!!!!!!!!!!) the pregnancy isnt viable one way or another.

You could both contact the embassy and see what they say about medical care? I only spent half a day in Male and it seemed a tiny bit 3rd world tbh.There's a tripadvisor thread here which is http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293953-i7445-k3838926-Maldives_sufficient_medical_care-Maldives.html

We're just about to book a holiday, probably to the Maldives, for when I will be around 20 weeks. The availability of medical care is my only question mark over the destination, but I figure it is probably fairly low risk in the second tri.

Well, you could choose an island that is close to Male?Don't a lot of the air stewards go to Kuredu for that reason? (only snag is the noise of airplanes as it's so close to Male)

I'm sure it would be safe- but the bigger question for me would be, how good are the hospitals in Male?

I'm going to Spain at 32 weeks, it's only Spain though and the local hospital in the resort i'm going to is fantastic- my sister has already been there with a broken leg and my mother for a cancer diagnosis!

Only you can answer the q as to whether you should rule it out- I probably would be a little apprehensive but only a little! Went to the Maldives on my honeymoon last sept and it is paradise! we spent a week in Kuramathi and a week in Huvafen fushi. Both were 30 mins from Male.

Bumping an old thread here, but ladies, I'm in need of desperate advice!

I'm 25 weeks now, and planning a real last minute babymoon to Maldives from India next week (it'll be 26-27 week period then). My only question was - since Maldives is an archipelago of islands with each island at least a boat ride away from the main city (Male) - so how safe an option would Maldives be? Anybody's traveled to Maldives late into their second trimester?

I've had a healthy pregnancy so far (touchwood) and I'm generally a chilled out type of person, but this is my first pregnancy (I'm 30 years old) and I don't know what I don't know. Don't want to take chances, but Maldives is so lovely I would want to know if its an exaggerated fear or should I really rule it out??

I'm going on a cruise round the med in the summer, will be about 26 weeks on my return, no flying involved, can't wait. Must remember to ring the insurance company though now I have read this! Didn't even occur to me,

I would recommend not travelling to Bali and Australia when 26 weeks preg and getting confused with the day we left Bali and the day we arrived in Australia, resulting in no accommodation in Perth, when the ashes were on and everywhere was fully booked. It was just before Christmas, we were looking at sleeping in the airport, it was like no room at the inn. Eventually with the help of tourist info I rung about 30 places and finally found somewhere.

Hi ladies, great thread! In my first pregnancy I did a lot of travelling (Egypt at 28 weeks with Easyjet, Spain at 31 weeks with BA and Switzerland at 33 and 34 weeks) and no one batted an eyelid at me - I had a note and never got to show it to anyone glad I had it though!I wanted to stress though that even if you are travelling in Europe you need more than an EHIC. Having the baby would def be covered and immediate aftercare but you could run into expensive problems if there are complications for you or the baby getting home. Organising flights/travel with medical care is very expensive so you could end up having to stay in whatever country you are in until you are both fit to travel (newborns can't fly!) and that will incur cost a lot of cost and probably inconvenience! Definately much cheaper to buy travel insurance! I work for an insurance company btw so hear about worse case scenario everyday - but we don't sell travel insurance!!BIBA is a great tip!

Great advice here ladies Thanku. Off on our babymoon Thursday to NYC for few days the a week in St Martin after cannot wait. 24 weeks now and will be 26 coming back. Will check out that insurance as Hubby has been checking into that. Got a cute tankini in mother care and for first time there will be pics of me on the beach. Will get flight socks, what are the best ones? Worried about ands and calves swelling, just recently experienced leg cramps....OMG such pain!

@AP78 congrats! we had to cancel a trip to Hawaii at Christmas coz I was so ill and unable to travel so I feel ur pain. got a great week in lanzarote week before Christmas at princesa yieza which was fab. Didn't do much but and out in spa, swim and catch some rays. Figured better feeling crappy in nice weather/hotel. The heat helped quite a bit.

Thanks for all these tips. Very practical and also made me laugh! I am 6 weeks pregnant and already have spent the past two weeks fighting my way through nausea and vomiting. We are planning a trip to Crete in mid-September when I would be about 10-11 weeks. I don't want to do it if I'm as ill as this as there's no point. So I'm thinking of waiting until I am about 14 weeks. This would be mid-October and he is dead against it because the weather will be cooler and everything will be closed. Very frustrating. All the flights are pricey too. The most reasonable one we've found is mid-September when I may be still in full vomiting mode.

Gosh Katie, sounds a bit risky so near your due date. Airlines won't take you after 35 weeks, even with a doctor's letter. Will you turn 35 weeks while you're out there? I'm traveling a lot at 30 weeks and I have been asked for a letter on boarding every single time. It has to be dated within one week of the flight too.

If you're very intrepid and under 35 weeks when you return, you could just rely on their emergency services swinging into action in the event but I'd get it in writing from your insurer and make sure your doctor would give you the right letter, as otherwise it could be quite a bill (repatriation etc.).

But oh! The Botswana border! I think I'd do everything I could to go..

Not sure if this post is still live, but I have a dilemna. Very good friends of mine are getting married in South Africa (on border of Botswana - remote game reserve - would need to a helicopter to get to a hospital) on 14th August. I will be 34 weeks at that time. Deep down, I think it is a risky idea to go at this late stage (esp as I was 2 weeks early last time) and also developed some stomach complications at 33 and 35 weeks last time and needed to be hospitalised. However, no 2 pregnancies are the same, and I well may be fine on this occassion.

I checked with insurer to see if I would be insured and they said as long as I have a doctors note I would be covered, however in view of the string of emails below, not sure if I have been advised correctly.

Anyway, what do you think? Am I mad to be thinking about going, or am I being over cautious about the risks?????

Well, the EHIC does cover your maternity care. It says so on the info.

"Presenting the EHIC entitles you to treatment that may become necessary during your trip, but doesn't allow you to go abroad specifically to receive medical care. However, maternity care, renal dialysis and managing the symptoms of pre-existing or chronic conditions that arise while abroad are all covered by the EHIC".

Also, insurance companies may give you a cheaper deal/no excess if you have one. So definitely worthwhile.

If you were going for longer, I would get an E106 as well, which provides full maternity treatment under the system of the country you are visiting. Perhaps not for a short trip though. I am overseas now and get all my antenatal and maternity care for free courtesy of the NHS, including my own midwife. I have no private insurance.

YES you do need travel insurance, even if you are only going withing Europe makipuppyThe EHIC only covers you for immediate emergency treatment, and if you don't have insurance, you could end up with a big bill!

Sabsbigpants - maybe apply on line for an EHIC if you don't have one yet. Info here. Mine took less than a week to arrive. It covers your maternity care in Italy. Of course you may want to take out insurance too, but it's worth having.

thanks for this pinchy, its really helpful. I'm due to fly to Rome in a couple of weeks when I will be 24-25 weeks pregnant. Have told DH to phone insurance company to check our policy and made a note to myself to phone my GP to write a note for me to take with me. Have spoken to my midwife about the trip already and she was fine with it. Just told me to make sure I walk around a lot during the flight and to drink lots of water.

Good news for late travellors like me - Citybond Suretravel now cover ALL stages of pregnancy. The only exclusion is if you have any complications or if you are advised not to travel. They charged me £110 for family annual cover (Europe only) - a bit pricey but worth it for travelling at 34 weeks .

I don't know if PHA are still going, I couldn't get any links to their website to work nor find them googleing.

AlexMummy - I just found Citybond Suretravel who covers up to 32 weeks. This PHA/IHA does cover up to 36weeks but this is something I don't need, so didn't look really into their website. But def BIBA website is good for finding different companies, thanks jill1000!